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Thursday, April 24, 2014

This photo is of DAI AJARI UEHARA GYOSHO's goma in Japan and shows the prayers written in
Chinese characters, but here people will write them in English. The prayer sticks are written by the people attending the ceremony, and then entered into the fire offering
(GOMA) by the officiating priest. While the priest is praying for the benefit
of all beings, for extinguishing the causes of suffering, for identification with FUDO MYO-O, and for the vision of
MAHAVAIROCANA BUDDHA, the people are usually praying for their needs in daily
life. People in their 20's often pray for "Heart's Wish be Realized";
those in their 30's for "Family Safety"; those in their 40's for
"Business Prosperity"; those in their 50's for "Husband-Wife
Satisfaction"; and those 60 and older for "Relief from Health
Problems".

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

The story of Ven Ichishima Shinryu illustrates one aspect of Buddhist karmic connections, called EN in Japanese. Ichishima Shoshin and myself have a strong connection going back 40 years, due in large part to the strong relation between his biological father and my spiritual father, Ven Enami Kakusho ('Gozen-sama'). Both fathers were special among the 400+ disciples of Enami Soken, all of whom trained in Kaiohogyo. In the book "Marathon Monks of Mt Hiei," author John Stevens relates that, "Enami was intent on restoring Tendai Buddhism as a force in the contemporary world . . . He realized that if Mt Hiei ceased to be a center of training, all was lost. He began his 1000-day kaihogyo in 1938. Enami Soken trained over 400 disciples and virtually all of the top Gyoja of the modern period were his disciples." Among these many disciples, Shinryu was the first, doing the 100 days in 1938, and Gozen-sama became the top disciple and successor to Soken. This strong relation then was passed down to their sons.

Gassho

California Tendai Buddhist MonasteryAt the temple (http://caltendai.org), one can have seclusion for the
practice of meditation, fire ceremony, ascetic practice, liturgies,
waterfalls, and mountain circumambulation, with a vegetarian regime and a
Mahayana Bodhisattva rule. From this unwordly life, one travels outside
to the world and its people, for their happiness and their benefit.
Through altruism, one transforms suffering into enlightenment. Details
and info on "My Web Page."